A four hour, swashbuckling adventure, Quest for Booty is a downloadable epilogue that ties together last years’ Tools of Destruction and a new Ratchet adventure promised for next year.
Despite its diminutive length, Insomniac successfully squeezes almost every element of the adored franchise, creating a well paced experience and dropping a gameplay approach the second you start to grow weary. With no need to drag mechanics or levels out unnaturally, every section of Booty has been chosen carefully and polished to a blinding sheen. The game packs in plenty of combat scenarios, a number of inventive and creative puzzles and some of the best platforming in the series.
To account for its length, Ratchet is given a small selection of pre-configured weapons as a substitute for the vendors and intricate levelling system of its full-length predecessor. Therefore, his arsenal has been cropped substantially, losing such gadgets as the Groovitron and Flamethrower.
The need for such artillery is negated, however, as much of the game is played without any weapons at all. Ratchet’s wrench is transformed into an Omni-use multi tool, allowing the furry Lombax to move specific background elements and pick up objects, creating make shift grenades and torches.
The game definitely maintains the series humour and charm, and while its heavily condensed cast will be disappointing to some (losing Clank, Captain Quark and troublesome robot pair, Cronk and Zephyr), Quest for Booty offers a hilarious TV episode to Tools of Destruction’s epic movie.
Confusingly though, the game does retread each area of the game twice. You will take different routes and play different gameplay styles each time, but it’s a little cheeky when the full 20 hour game rarely duplicated a level. Also, fans of the series’ trademarked New Game+ option, unlockable minigames and hidden objects will be disappointed to find them missing.
Short downloadable epilogues are yet another fantastic advantage of the downloadable systems present on next generation consoles, and here’s hoping that more developers will follow Insomniac’s lead to satisfy fans who are left wanting more.
Quest for Booty is a streamlined, concentrated experience that trades exploration and replay value for an incredibly well paced and beautifully crafted game.
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This game is very exiting, especialy the end. I did not understand Tools of Destruction’s ending but now I know the plot. I’ve played RC ever since the original game throw to Ratchet & Clank 3. I was not a big fan of Ratchet: Gladiator and saw hope in Size Matters but eventualy disapointed me aswell. Secret Agent Clank was cool but very diffucult. Tools of Destruction was quit new but I soon started to get use to the next generation gameplay. It would be a dream come true if they make the sequal to Quest for Booty more classical like the first few Ratchet & Clanks. I loved the adventure and levels like Blackwater City. I think others feel the same and I can only hope that Insomniac Games make the ultimate RC game!
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